Hundreds of Eastern Equatoria residents yesterday stormed Torit streets and made a five-kilometre line-up to welcome its caretaker governor amid great jubilation.
The large crowd walked the five-kilometre distance between the airstrip and the town on foot, braving the scorching sun while ululating and dancing with the different communities singing traditional songs.Business in the town came to a standstill with shops and the market temporarily closed down as traders rushed to take a glimpse at the caretaker governor while others followed out of curiosity.
Johnson Juma Okot is one of the temporary governors appointed by GoSS President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, to take care of the states’ affairs during the elections campaign.
Mr. Okot told Radio Emmanuel that his mission was to accomplish the South Sudan liberation struggle that started in Torit half a century ago.
He expressed gratitude to be in Torit, his birth place, to work with the people to complete the task of determining the destiny of citizens within the remaining time before elections.
Mr. Okot, a former Director for SPLA Affairs in the President’s Office, had promised in an earlier statement on Sunday at St. Charles Lwanga Chapel, in Juba, that he would ensure security and free and fair elections as his priorities in the coming two months months.
The new caretaker governor was received in Torit by Eastern Equatoria State ministers, political party leaders, county commissioners, members of the state legislative Assembly, paramount chiefs, religious leaders and civil society, and UN and NGO representatives.